Q&A: What drops do they put in the newborn babies' eyes after birth and what's their purpose?

by Dr. Laura A. Jana, FAAP

What drops do they put in the baby's eyes after birth and what's their purpose?

What you're most likely referring to is an antibiotic ointment. It is currently recommend by both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all newborns' eyes be treated immediately after birth with 0.5 percent erythromycin ophthalmic ointment. This recommendation helps prevent a potentially serious type of newborn eye infection most often caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae known as ophthalmia neonatorum. Fortunately this type of infection is quite rare, but also quite serious if left untreated, as it used to be the most common cause of blindness.

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